Curtain for vehicles.



F. H. ILSE. v

CURTAIN FOR VEHICLES.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 17, 1911.

Patented Feb. 27, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

P. H. ILSE. CURTAIN FOR VEHICLES. I APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17,1911.

Patented Feb. 27, 1912 2 SHEETS-SHEET novel structural features for effecting the FRANK H. ILSE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CURTAIN FOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1912.

Application filed June 17, 1911. Serial No. 633,781.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK H. her), a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Coolc'and State of Illinois. have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Curtains for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to curtains designed to be used in combination with the ordinary foldable top of automobiles'and other vehicles employing such tops; and among the leading objects of the invention a re: lst, to provide curtains and supporting and attaching means therefor of such a. character that the curtains may be quickly and easily ap plied wholly from the inside of the car;

2nd, to provide curtains and support-ing and attaching means therefor of such a character as to permit the folding of the top without disconnecting the curtains from their immediate supporting devices or disconnecting the latter from the topitself; 3rd, to

provide a construction permitting the folding and storage of the curtains, when not in use, in such a manner as not to injure the curtains and not to obstruct any otherwise usable space within the body of the vehicle; 4th, to provide curtains and supporting and attaching means therefor of such a character as to secure, in combination with the top and fixed part-s ofthe body, a practically completely inclosed or limousine body.

To these ends my invention consists in the above recited objects hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims. In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevational view of my improved curtains attached to one side of a vehicle provided with a vehicle top frame. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detached sectional view showing the curtains in folded position against one of the ribs of the top frame. Fig. 4 is a detached sectional view of one of the ribs designed to show the protector at the upper ends of the curtains. Fig. 5 is an ed e view of Fig. Fig. (3 is a detailed view oi one of the side curtains, parts being broken away.

Referring to the drawings, the vehicle body 7 is of the ordinary type used on automobiles and carriages and is provided with a top covering consisting of the bow ribs 8 and 9 which are piv oted, at their lower ends, to the supports 10 secured to the vehicle] body and to which ribs 8 and 9 angularly disposed ribs 11 and 12 are respectively pivoted. A top covering 13 secured to the ribs and to the rear end of the body of the vehicle. The top frame and covering are of the ordinary construction and crnislitute no part of the invention herein, except. in so far as the framework is used in combinationavith my invention.

In the drawings the top covering isslnnvn in its open or operative position extending from the rear of the body forwardly to the windshiii'ld 1 1-. \l' hen it is desired to fold. the pivotal connection between the ends of the rib 8 and the support 10 is disconnected. whereupon the angular rib l2 folds against the back of the body of the vehicle and the remaining ribs may be folded upon the rib 12 in successive order bv shifting the rib S rcarwardly until it lies against the rib 9, which rib 5) in turn lies against the rib l2 and the rib 1i will lie against the ribS. Between the ribs 11v and 12. extending longitudinally of the body or the vehicle and upon opposite sides thereof, I secure curtain supports 15 and 16, which are flexible so as to fold with the top, and in the preferred form, consist of wire cables, that may be tightened or loosened by means of turn buckles 17. Upon these supports one or more side curtains are slidably mounted, there being preferably three curtains upon each side of the vehicle. the curtains 15 extending betu-een the rib l and the rear end 19 of the top 15%; the. curtain 20 extending between the rib 8 and the rib S} and the curtain 21v extending between the. wind-shield 14: and the rib 8.

As the constructions of all of the side curtains herein shown are substantially identical,except as to their shape. I will, therefore, only describe one curtain, which description will serve for all.

Each curtain consists of a. pluralitx of sections, such as 22, 22 29", etc, (Fig 6,) of flexible, Water-Proof material. each section being prrwided with a window of cclhr loid or any other suitable transpz'u'ent inatcrial. In my in'efcrrci'l construction I connect. adjacent sections by l1inge-joinls each formed by a stitched transverse loop or pocket 26 within which is inserted a tillerrod 21 of rat-an. metal. or utlnr suitable material that acts as a stili encr, and facilitates the ready-folding of the sections of the curtain upon each other, afterthe lash ion of an accordion-plait. Apertures -27are provided at. the top edge of each section and through which apertures the side supports and 16 extend.

When the sections composing each curtain are strung upon the supports, it will be readily seen that when the curtain is in an operative position, as when it is in use, the

several sections will all be substantially in the same plane, but when it is desired to place curtain in an inoperative position, the r ctions may be folded one upon the other by sliding the same along their support and in such folded position they can be then swung upwardly and secured be neath and adjacent the top covering, as

shown in Fig. 3, wherein the curtain 20 and the oppositely disposed curtain 20 are tolded against. the rib 9 and held by the retaining means or straps The curtain 21 and the opposite curtain thereto may both be folded in the same manner against the rib 8, which is equally true of the curtain 18 and the opposite curtain thereto, which may be folded against the rib 1:2 and held by means of straps, or any other suitable retaining means desired.

At suitable points both on the frame top and on the body of the vehicle latches 28 are placed which may be of any desired constructi on and which cooperate with suitable openingsformed in the curtains themselves. or in tabs 29 secured to the curtains to hold said curtains at their lower ends, such fastening devices being operable Wholly from within the body of the vehicle. In my preferred construction I also attach tabs 30 to one or more of the curtains, which are also provided with suitable latch openings, whereby it it is not desired to have the cur" taiu entirely inclosing the vehicle body, a slight opening may he obtained by securing the tabs 30 to one of the latches and thereby partially or entirel folding one of the sections of the our sin upon an adjacent sect In order that no rain, dust or other sub stances may enter the inclosure formed by the curtains when in an operative position. 1. secure protectors 31 to the top 13 and on sides above the upper ends of the which protectors extend below the supports 15 and 16, thereby forming a suitticicntly tight,- joint to keep out ram, dust or other substances.

It will be readily seen from the foregoing description that if the curtains are in an inoperative position and it is desired to immediately use the same, any one or all can be readily detached and brought into operative positi-"u nd there securely held, this being 1- r.- i'ior y' of th s I cnrtair icl tain are folded, a compact body is formed which may be easily thrown into inopcratire position without in any Way bending and thereby injuring or breaking the transparent material constituting the Windows, and that all of the side curtains when in an inoperative position together with their supporting cables may be readily folded with the top frame when it is desired to throw the entire frame construction into a folded position.

Having therefore described. my invention, I claim i. In combination with a frame and covering of a toldable ehicle top, flexible curtain supports extending longitudinally of the top on either side of the latter, respectively, foldable curtains slidably mounted on said supports, and means on the under side of the top covering for securing the folded curtains against the latter.

2. In combination with a frame and cov ering of afoldable vehicle top, flexible curtaiu supports extending longitudinally of the top on either side of the latter, respectirely, and foldabie therewith, toldable curtains slidably mounted on said supports, means on the under side. of the top covering for securing the folded curtains against the latter, and means operable from within the body of the vehicle for attaching the free margins of said curtains to the top frameand body of the vehicle.

3. in combination with the frntnc and covm'ing of a 'toldahle vehicle top, cables extending longitudinally oi the top on either side between the front and rear ends thereof, and curtains each comprising a. pin ralit-y of sections foldably connected by -vertical hinge joints, said sections being ed by vertical hinge joints and provided with windows therein, said sections being provided ad acent to their upper ends with eyes slzdably engaging said cables In combination with the 3'; no and cow-ring of a foldable vehicle cahaes extending longitudinally of the top on either side between the front and rear ends thereof, and curtains each comprising a plurality of sections of flexible material foldably connected by vertical hin e joints, each of said joints being formed iy a stitched loopor pocket formed inthe material of the curtain and a stifi'ener inserted in said loo wholly from within the i or pocket, said sections being provided a c. It will also be api acent to their upper ends with eyes slidit that when die sections of each-ewe l ably-engaglng said cables.

' tively, and fcldable therewith, and curtains Witnesses: elidably mounted on said supports, each of JAMES R.'OFFIIBL D,, said curtains comprising a plurality of sec SADIE M. RYAN.

6. In combination with a frame and covtions of flexible material foldably connectering of a foldable vehicle top; flexible cured by vertical hinge joints and provided with tain supports extending longitudinally of Windows therein. the up on either side of the latter, respec- FRANKH. ILSE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the flummlssiioner of Iatents, Washington, I). C. 

